00:00are you thinking about getting a rabbit as a pet or maybe you've already brought one home and
00:11you're feeling a bit overwhelmed well you're in the right place because today I'm going to share
00:16the most important rabbit care tips that every beginner needs to know and trust me by the end
00:21of this video you'll discover the one mistake that 90% of new rabbit owners make that could
00:26seriously harm their pet let's start with something that might surprise you rabbits are actually the
00:32third most popular pet in America but they're also one of the most misunderstood many people
00:38think they're easy low maintenance pets that you can just put in a cage and forget about this
00:44couldn't be further from the truth first things first housing your rabbit needs space and lots of
00:50it a cage that's too small is one of the fastest ways to create behavioral problems and health
00:55issues the minimum size for a rabbit enclosure should be at least four times the length of
01:00your rabbit when they're fully stretched out but here's the thing that's just the minimum bigger
01:06is always better many rabbit owners are shocked to learn that rabbits need at least three to four
01:11hours of exercise time outside their enclosure every single day think of it this way would you want to
01:18spend your entire life in a small room neither does your rabbit they need to hop run and explore to
01:24stay physically and mentally healthy now let's talk about diet because this is where things get
01:29really interesting forget everything you think you know about rabbit food from cartoons and movies
01:33carrots should actually be given sparingly as treats not as a main food source the foundation of your
01:40rabbits diet should be high quality hay specifically Timothy hay for adult rabbits here's something that
01:46surprises most people rabbits need to eat their own poop yes you heard that right there are actually two
01:54types of rabbit droppings the hard round pellets you typically see and soft nutrient rich droppings
02:00called secotropes rabbits need to eat these secotropes to properly digest their food and absorb essential
02:06nutrients if you prevent them from doing this they can become seriously malnourished let's move on to
02:12pellets many pet stores will try to sell you colorful mixed pellets with seeds nuts and dried fruits don't fall for this
02:19marketing trick these fancy mixes are actually harmful to rabbits you want plain green pellets
02:25made from Timothy hay the rule of thumb is about a quarter cup of pellets per pound of body weight per
02:30day for adult rabbits fresh vegetables are crucial but you can't just give them anything dark leafy greens
02:37things like romaine lettuce cilantro parsley and bok choy are excellent choices introduce
02:43new vegetables slowly one at a time and watch for any digestive upset and remember iceberg lettuce is a no-go
02:51it has virtually no nutritional value and can cause digestive issues here's a critical point that many new
02:57owners miss rabbits are prey animals which means they're experts at hiding illness and pain in the wild showing weakness
03:05makes you a target for predators this means you need to be extra observant about changes in your rabbits
03:11behavior eating habits or bathroom habits speaking of bathroom habits let's talk about litter training
03:18yes rabbits can be litter trained and it's actually much easier than you might think rabbits naturally
03:24choose one corner of their living space as their bathroom so you simply need to place a litter box in that corner
03:30use paper-based or wood pellet litter never use clay or clumping litter as these can be harmful if ingested
03:36grooming is another essential aspect of rabbit care rabbits shed a lot especially during seasonal changes
03:44during heavy shedding periods you might need to brush your rabbit daily to prevent them from ingesting
03:48too much fur which can cause a dangerous condition called gi stasis let's talk about socialization
03:55rabbits are social creatures and a single rabbit can become lonely and depressed many experts recommend
04:01keeping rabbits in bonded pairs however introducing rabbits requires patience and proper technique never
04:08just put two rabbits together and hope for the best this can result in serious fights and injuries
04:14temperature control is something many people overlook rabbits are much more sensitive to heat than cold
04:20temperatures above 80 degrees fahrenheit can be dangerous for rabbits and they can actually die from
04:25heat stroke if you live in a warm climate make sure your rabbit has access to cool areas plenty of water and consider
04:32using cooling mats during hot weather now here's that crucial mistake i mentioned at the beginning
04:38many new rabbit owners don't realize that rabbits need regular veterinary care from a veterinarian
04:43who specializes in exotic pets not all vets are knowledgeable about rabbits and seeing the wrong vet can be dangerous for your pet
04:51rabbits should be spayed or neutered not just to prevent unwanted litters but because unaltered rabbits
04:56have a high risk of reproductive cancers female rabbits in particular have up to an 80 percent chance of
05:03developing uterine cancer if they're not spayed let's discuss some warning signs that your rabbit needs
05:08immediate veterinary attention if your rabbit stops eating stops producing droppings seems lethargic or is
05:14grinding their teeth these are all emergency situations rabbits can go downhill very quickly so when in doubt call
05:21your vet immediately environmental enrichment is crucial for your rabbit's mental health provide
05:27plenty of toys tunnels and hiding spots rabbits love to dig so consider providing a digging box filled
05:33with shredded paper or hay they also enjoy tossing around lightweight toys and solving puzzle feeders
05:40safety is paramount when rabbit proofing your home rabbits love to chew and electrical cords are
05:45particularly dangerous cover or block access to all cords and be aware that rabbits can chew
05:51through wooden furniture baseboards and even drywall always supervise your rabbit during free roam time
05:58until you're confident your space is completely rabbit proofed one final point that's often overlooked
06:05rabbits are crepuscular meaning they're most active during dawn and dusk hours this is when they'll want
06:10to play and interact with you don't expect your rabbit to be active during the middle of the day when they
06:15naturally want to rest remember owning a rabbit is a long-term commitment rabbits can live eight to
06:2112 years or even longer with proper care they're intelligent affectionate animals that can make
06:26wonderful companions when their needs are properly met if you found this information helpful make sure
06:32to give this video a like subscribe to our channel and visit our website for more pet info tips and pet
06:38entertainment from all of us at the channel we hope you have a better understanding of your rabbit now
06:44and we wish you many happy healthy years of companionship with your pet
06:48the most important thing to remember is that every rabbit is an individual with their own personality
06:53and preferences take time to observe your rabbit learn their habits and build a relationship based on
06:59trust and understanding with proper care your rabbit can become not just a pet but a beloved member of your
07:06family
07:16you
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